Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland's long-held bias against lesbians in her program is no secret to anyone who has followed Lady Lion basketball for more than a few years ("Portland accused of anti-gay remarks," Oct. 12).

The idea that Portland must protect her players from gay people is laughable, and with the recent revelation that WNBA superstar Sheryl Swoopes is a lesbian, one has to wonder how many potential Lady Lion standouts have been turned down by Portland because of their assumed homosexuality.

The bottom line is that the Lady Lion basketball program suffers when such discrimination is allowed to occur.

Penn State deserves a lot better than what coach Rene Portland has to offer it.